Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Unique reference number SC068827 Inspection date 28/02/2012 Inspector Maureen Hamer Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 13/07/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.3

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home accommodates up to five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and managed by a local authority. At the time of the inspection, there were four young people in the home.

p.4

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

p.4

Progress

At the last inspection in July 2011, the service was judged as satisfactory.

p.4

Progress

The service has recruited new staff but staff vacancies continue. The home is using agency staff who know the young people; this enables them to provide continuity of care. All staff have the necessary mandatory training including a first aid qualification to enable them to promote young people's well-being.

p.4

Progress

The manager has worked successfully with staff to ensure that following the use of a control, restraint or discipline that there is good recording of the event enabling effective monitoring of such events. The children's guide has been up-dated and now includes the name and contact details of the monthly visitor however the name of the young person's independent reviewing officer has not been included. Young people have mobile telephones and the home has ordered a new landline so that if necessary young people are able to use the telephone privately.

p.4

Progress

Staff are aware of the actions to take in the event of a young person going missing. Protocols are completed and contain relevant information to assess risks to young people and detail actions to take to reduce the frequency of young people going missing. There are good working relationship with the police to promote the welfare of young people.

p.4

Progress

Staff are working with young people to engage them in the running of the home such as in decorating and in menu planning. Consequently the menu has a broad and interesting menu range of options that are nutritious and enjoyed by young people. Additional support has also been put in place to assist key workers to ensure that young people have individualised plans in place that identify their needs and actions to take to reduce impact of risky and negative behaviours. Changes in young people's overall management plans have helped to improve staff's knowledge about young people and to promote positive behaviours. However some assessments are not comprehensively completed or up-dated and do not always reflect all the young people’s needs. The omission of relevant information such as actions to take regarding risk behaviours has a negative impact on effective communication between staff on promoting positive behaviour.

p.4

Progress

The quality assurance monitoring is satisfactory but does not enable the manager to have a comprehensive oversight of quality of care such as risk assessments being up-to-date. The quality assurance reports have not been reported to Ofsted and do not include involvement of young people, their parents or the placing authority. This impacts on the breadth of information to inform quality of care improvements in out comes for young people.

p.5

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain monitoring of the matters set out in Schedule 6 to be able to evaluate the quality of care particularly the up-dating of care plans including changes in risk assessments and behaviour plans. Provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authority (Regulation 34 (1)(b)(3)) 31/05/2012

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the welfare of children accommodated there particularly related to ensuring that behaviour plans and risk assessments are in place and reviewed. (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 31/05/2012

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 include in the children's guide how a child can contact their independent reviewing officer, The Children's Rights Director, Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent advocate. (NMS 13.5)

p.5